Frozen meatballs and cheese tortellini in a buffalo-ranch cream sauce. The batch in the photo was made in the Instant Pot — instructions for both pots are below. Serves 6. Crockpot: 3–4 hours on HIGH or 6–8 hours on LOW. Instant Pot: about 25 minutes. Ingredients 2 pounds home style meatballs 1 pound cheese tortellini…
Chipped beef in a peppery milk gravy, smothered over toast — the chow-hall classic, made at home in about 15 minutes. A note from a veteran: I served in the Marine Corps, and this was the breakfast everybody actually looked forward to. When SOS was on the line, you went through it — and usually…
From scratch because it’s easy — and you know exactly what’s in them. One bowl for dry, one for wet, lumps and all. Serves 4. About 20 minutes. Ingredients 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp baking powder Pinch of salt 1 cup milk 1 egg 2 tbsp melted butter or oil 1…
The whole trick is dry skin and baking powder — 380°F to cook them through, then 400°F to get them crackly. Serves 4. About 45 minutes, start to finish. Ingredients 2 lb chicken wings (drums & flats) 1 tbsp baking powder (important: NOT baking soda) 1–1 1/2 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning 1/2 tsp garlic powder…
Beef and baby potatoes side by side in the Crock-Pot, garlic butter over everything, and carrots and green beans layered on top — our version of a Pinterest favorite, adapted from Simply Mom Eats. Serves 4. 15 minutes of prep, then 4–5 hours on HIGH or 7–8 hours on LOW. Ingredients 1½ pounds beef stew…
A soft stand-mixer loaf rolled up with cinnamon sugar and finished with a cinnamon–brown sugar top. Serves 8. About 2 hours, mostly rising time. Note: Butter and cinnamon/sugar on both sides. Hope this works as well for everyone else as it did in my kitchen.
Stand-mixer pizza dough with garlic, oregano, and diastatic malt baked right in — cold-fermented for real pizzeria flavor. Makes one 16-inch pan pizza (about 10 slices). About 20 minutes of hands-on work; the rise and cold ferment do the rest. Ingredients 1 cup warm water (105–110°F) 2 tsp active dry yeast 1 tsp sugar 3…
Thick, chewy chocolate chip cookies mixed by hand — no mixer, no stand, just a bowl and a spoon. Makes 12 cookies. About 1 hour, including the 30-minute chill. Ingredients 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour…
Instant Pot smoked sausage, jasmine rice, black beans & corn — Cajun-seasoned and done in half an hour. Serves: 4–6. 25–30 minutes. Ingredients Tips
A firm, sticky-glazed meatloaf and crispy garlic-Parmesan potatoes — one dinner, timed to land on the table together. Serves: 3–4. About 1 hour, mostly hands-off while the loaf bakes. Make the meal together: Start the meatloaf first. Begin the skillet potatoes about 20–25 minutes before you plan to serve. Finish the potatoes while the meatloaf…
